Bobbin holder



y 14, 1954 J. 5. HUNSINGER ETAL 3,140,840

BOBBIN HOLDER Filed March 20. 1961 IN V EN TORS J06! S HUNS/IVGER ARTHUR L- GOTT/LY ATTOR YE) United States Patent "ce 3,149,840 BOEBZN HOLDER John S. Hunsinger and Arthnr L. Gottily, Pensacota, Fla,

assignors, by mesne assignments, to Monsanto Gompany, a corporation of Delaware Fitted Mar. 20, 1961, Ser. No. 96,899 1 *Clairn. (Cl. 242-439) This invention relates to bobbin holders and more par ticularly to bobbin holders which permit access to the center of the bobbin.

Large bobbins which remain stationary while the yarn is withdrawn therefrom are conventionally held on holders which extend into or through the bobbin. One of the disadvantages of conventional bobbin holders is that they do not permit access to or visual inspection of the inside of the bobbin, where yarn identifying tags or tapes are sometimes secured. Thus, to inspect the tag, it is necessary to remove the bobbin from the holder. Also, some conventional bobbin holders must be carefully guided into the bobbin. When suspended by a steel holder, bobbins constructed of composite material may become frayed after extended use, giving rise to maintenance problems. With this in mind, one of the objects of this invention is to provide a novel and improved bobbin holder.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bobbin holder which permits access to the center of the bobbin.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bobbin holder which engages only a portion of the bobbin and which has a guide for directing the bobbin thereonto.

A further object of this invention is to provide a bobbin holder having a rigid arcuate bobbin engaging portion and which permits a visual inspection of the inside of the bobbin.

One embodiment of the invention contemplates a bobbin holder having an arcuate portion which engages a portion of the inside of the bobbin, the curvature of the arcuate portion being such that it conforms to the curvature of the inside surface of the bobbin. This holds the bobbin without movement and also leaves the center of the bobbin open for inspection. A tapered projection is provided for guiding the bobbin onto the holder. The holder can be molded from plastics of various types such as nylon. Preferably, the plastic has a degree of hardness approximating the hardness of the bobbin.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent when the following detailed description is read in conjunction with the appended drawing, in which FIGURE 1 is a front view of a bobbin holder illustrating one embodiment of the invention, and

FIGURE 2 is a side view partly in section of the bobbin holder showing the configuration of the bobbin guiding portions of the holder.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, a frame 11 is shown supporting a bobbin holder 12, a bolt 13 extending through a supporting leg 14 of the holder 12 and into the frame to secure the bobbin holder to the frame. A lug 16 on the bobbin holder 12 is positioned in a slot 17 in the frame 11 to prevent rotative movement of the bobbin holder.

An arcuate bobbin support 20 secured to the supporting Patented July 14, 1964 leg 14 extends outward from the frame 11 for holding a bobbin 21 carrying a yarn package 22. The yarn is pulled off the package 22 as shown in FIGURE 2, the bobbin 21 remaining stationary as the yarn is removed. The curvature of the arcuate support 26* is such that it conforms to the inner surface of the bobbin 21. This insures that the bobbin will not vibrate or oscillate laterally as the yarn is removed. The distal end of the arcuate sup port 29 is curved backward towards the edges of the support as shown at 26 in FlGURE 2. This provides for a greater accessibility to the center of the bobbin and also serves to guide the bobbin onto the holder.

A vertical uide flange 27 secured to the arcuate support 2t) and the supporting leg 14 extends outward beyond the distal end of the arcuate support and terminates in a tapered end which guides the bobbin onto the arcuate support 25, the end of the flange being tapered downward.

In using the bobbin holder, the bobbin 21 is manually laced on the holder 12. The guide flange 27 and the curved distal end of the arcuate support 29 serve to guide the bobbin onto the holder with such case that the operator hardly has to look at the holding during the placing of the bobbin on the holder. After the yarn package 22 is removed the empty bobbin is removed and another full bobbin is placed on the holder.

The configuration of the arcuate support insures that the bobbin will not move during the yarn removal and also permits the operator to place his hand inside the bobbin to add or remove identifying tags or tapes or to visually inspect an identifying tag or tape during the yarn removal operation.

As indicated above, the holder can be conveniently shaped from plastic material such as by molding. Among other advantages of the present invention is the fact that maintenance costs can be reduced, since bobbins suspended on the bobbin holder above-described have longer service life.

It is to be understood that the embodiment disclosed herein may be modified or amended and that numerous other embodiments may be contemplated which will fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

A bobbin holder, comprising a supporting leg adapted to be secured to a base, a member secured at one end to the leg and extending horizontally therefrom for support ing a bobbin, said member having an arcuate cross section adapted to conform to a portion of the inner surface of a tubular bobbin, said member having sides which terminate at points above a horizontal plane through the axis 7 of the bobbin, and a vertical flange secured to the lower surface of the member and extending to a point beyond the distal end of said member, said flange being tapered to guide the bobbin onto said member, said member being tapered at said distal end to facilitate movement of said bobbin onto said member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,178,159 Holmes Apr. 4, 1916 1,825,822 Rundell Oct. 6, 1931 2,171,648 Ennis et al. Sept. 5, 1939 

